Lindsey M Nelson, Couturier

Married in peacock

2011-08-30T16:36:00.000-07:00

The bride with her father

I recently had the pleasure of making a unique wedding gown for a friend. Erica is an artist currently earning her master's degree at CalArts. When she asked me to help her out, I knew we were going to make something exciting! I was especially thrilled when we went in the direction of working with some color (it is no secret that I am a fan of colorful wedding gowns!).

She was married on June 11 in a Japanese tea garden, where her peacock color scheme looked incredible.

While we were fabric shopping, we were struggling to find a brocade that was just right for the sash. I tend to be a bit on the selective side, I don't usually get a fabric or trim unless it seems exactly right. Sometimes it is hard to believe that one can't find the right fabric in blocks and blocks of fabric stores in Downtown L.A.'s Fashion District. Luck was on our side, though, when we stumbled over a gorgeous emerald green brocade with a gold peacock feather motif!

The fabric worked perfectly for the dramatic sash, tied in a one-loop bow, trailing behind the bride like a mini-train.

All that was left was to find the silks to complement the colors in the sash. The top of the gown is a taupe satin charmeuse, the cumberbund midriff is a gold silk taffeta (which I also used to line the underside of the sash) and the skirt is a rich royal blue also of silk charmeuse.

The bride created the antique brooch and peacock feather detail which we pinned on the back of the sash from a family heirloom pin and she also wore her mother's bridal veil.

Polly Pocket's got nothing on this!

2011-07-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

Just recently came across this awesome tutorial for a portable fabric dollhouse! What little girl (and probably a few boys and grown-up girls!) wouldn't LOVE this as a special homemade gift?

Bippity boppity boo

2011-07-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

There is no question that the entirety of the Disney Princess franchise is fraught with controversy and inaccuracy. One issue that has always bothered me from a fashion history standpoint is that the clothing the Princesses wear bears next to no resemblance to actual historical fashions. Los Angeles illustrator Claire Hummel has taken on this issue in a new series of illustrations featuring the renowned ladies in more historically appropriate attire. She did a lovely job maintaining the integrity of the original designs that we have all become so familiar with, while adding more authentic silhouettes and fabrics. Hope you enjoy as much as I did! (She even has prints available in her shop for a mere $10).

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head...

2011-06-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

... but that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red...

Especially if I were wearing a pair of Jessica Swift Rainboots!

I went to high school with Jessica Swift, a woman who has grown into an incredible artist. She works a lot in patterns (which has been featured on fabrics as well, for all you home sewers!), and all her work is infused with her spirit of love and inspiration. It is no secret how much I love rainboots (even though we only get rain a couple months out of the year here in LA), and I can honestly say that the designs Jessica is kicking around are fabulous! Probably the coolest I have ever seen!

Plus, there is a secret extra bonus! Each pair of boots is designed with a special loving, inspirational message printed inside to remind you how fabulous you are each time you put on those fabulous boots!

Right now, Jessica is using kickstarter.com to get this awesome project off the ground. For a donation of just $100, you'll be sent a pair of boots once they hit the production line! Contributions of any amount from $1 on up are greatly appreciated and are being rewarded with other awesome Jessica Swift art. Just think how amazing it would be to help Jessica's dream come true and land yourself a truly special pair of boots!

I can pretty much guarantee that no rainy day or mucky puddle will get you down if you were wearing these amazing boots!

Back in the saddle

2011-05-21T00:37:00.000-07:00

I know I very much dropped the ball on the Royal Wedding Retrospective. I hope you enjoyed the posts I did manage to get up and also hope you enjoyed the nuptials of Kate and Wills as much as I did!

Part of what prevented me from putting the time into researching the RWR is that I am working on a new project, a wedding gown for a friend! The dress is unique (and colorful!) and it has been a real pleasure to be working on a custom project again. The wedding is June 11, pictures will follow soon after!

Yardage

2011-03-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

I recently stumbled upon this great blog featuring a post on estimating yardage, a really important but sometimes elusive skill to have when making your own patterns or buying on a whim.

Biased

2011-03-14T10:34:00.001-07:00

This is an excellent article on learning how to sew on the bias, a sure-fire way to achieve a designer look.

RWR: Speculation on Fascinators

2011-03-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun little video that features headpieces of past British Royal weddings, speculation on what head wear Kate will wear on her big day, and a collection of de-lic-ious hats!

What I love on Etsy right now: Mardi Gras Masks

2011-03-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

With Mardi Gras just around the corner on March 8, I thought it would be fun to check out what Etsy has to offer in the way of masks for the holiday. Fat Tuesday is all about excess, so a simple gold and purple plastic half mask from Party City just won't do.

Here are some fun ones I tracked down:

Purple Lace Mask

The Mask of Strong Emotion

Scarlett Macaw Masquerade Ball Mask

Fire Bird Phoenix Feathered Mardi Gras Mask

Wild Lotus

Handpainted Damask Inspired Mask

Oscar night

2011-02-27T21:39:00.000-08:00

In my house, the Oscars are a big social occasion. I have a great time, but I don't actually get much of a chance to analyze the fashion. Also, today I happened to spend the first half of the day having a majorly awesome vintage shopping experience (more on Shareen Vintage in downtown LA later!) so I didn't catch most of the red carpet action.

A couple of trends I did notice:

Emeralds.
Women are still shunning the necklace.
Sheath dresses, body conscious silhouettes.
Beads, metallics and sequins, oh my!

After scanning some of the fashion more closely online, I have to say that I think my favorite of the night was Helen Mirren in a classic and sophisticated Vivienne Westwood.

On the other end of the spectrum of loveliness was True Grit's Hailee Steinfeld in a dreamy Marchesa gown.

I also thought Natalie Portman pulled of maternity beautifully in her Swarovski studded Rodarte and I really loved her Tiffany & Co tassel earrings.

right NOW

2011-02-24T09:51:00.000-08:00

If you happen to be online right now, you can watch a live stream of the Fall 2011 Prada collection at Milan Fashion Week.

RWR: Bertie and Elizabeth

2011-02-23T18:45:00.000-08:00

Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon were married on April 26, 1923.

After proposing to Lady Elizabeth three times, Prince Albert was finally accepted on January 13, 1923. Elizabeth did not refuse Bertie because she did not love him, but because she was reticent to enter a life of public service and celebrity.

The princess-to-be was given a sapphire and diamond engagement ring, sapphires were said to be her favorite stone.

Lady Elizabeth's gown, described by the London Times as "the simplest gown ever made for a royal wedding", was designed by Madame Handley Seymour, a former London court dressmaker. It was made of pearl embroidered ivory chiffon moiré dyed to match the veil perfectly. The veil itself was borrowed from Queen Mary and was secured with a wreath of myrtle, white roses and heather.

Lady Elizabeth had eight bridal attendants from the British aristocracy who were dressed in a similar fashion to the bride.

The wedding ceremony took place in London's Westminster Abbey. As the bride began her procession down the aisle with her father, she placed her bouqet of white roses on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in somber remembrance of the fallen soldiers of the recently ended First World War. The bride had lost her brother Fergus in the war and herself had spent the war caring for wounded soldiers.

It is important to remember that when one marries into royalty, they become not just a spouse, but a representative of an entire people. The Archbishop of York reminded the couple of this in no uncertain terms during the ceremony when he stated, "The warm and generous heart of this people takes you today unto itself. Will you not, in response, take that heart, with all its joys and sorrows, unto your own?" This seems to almost foreshadow the unprecedented manner in which Prince Albert was later to reluctantly become King George VI and the tumultuous times in which they would reign together, steadfast and courageous in their commitment to the United Kingdom through the horrors of World War II.

You can learn more about the lives of the Duke and Duchess of York and their controversial rise to the throne in the Oscar nominated film The King's Speech.

King George passed away in 1952, it is believed that the great stress of reigning through World War II contributed to his untimely death. In 2002, at the age of 103, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother died. I was studying abroad in London at the time and I was able to attend her funeral procession. It was clear that she was much beloved by the people of England as well as her own family, I'm sure Prince William will be thinking of his dear great-grandmother on his wedding day this April, 88 years and 3 days after her marriage to Prince Albert.

And here is a sweet video of the wedding day. I can imagine how fun it would be to replicate this style of videography for a present day wedding.

Review: Seamless

2011-02-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

With the exception of the screeners that are delivered directly to our door, I don't get around to watching new movies very often. So even though this is not a new film, thanks to an afternoon with the house to myself, our internet TV and Netflix Watch Instantly, I was able to enjoy the 2005 documentary Seamless by Douglas Keeve (of Unzipped fame).

(Spoiler Alert! If you click on the links in this next paragraph, you may learn about the end results of the film, so if you want to be surprised and enjoy the dramatic tension of the film, don't click!)

The action centers around a contest sponsored by Vouge and the Council of Fashion Designers of America to discover, promote, mentor and assist an up-and-coming designer in the American fashion scene. The contest consists of ten contestants, and the documentary crew follows three of the hopefuls: Alexadre Plokhov of Cloak, Doo-Ri Chung of doo.ri, and Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCullough of Proenza Schouler. It is an eye-opening look into what the real world of fashion is like behind the glitz and glam of runway shows, posh boutiques, and glossy magazines... a world where young, talented, artistic designers struggle to make ends meet while pursuing their passion, a world where the majority of small designers who are seemingly successful due to lots of media hype run businesses that have not yet begun to be profitable (despite the enormous retail price tags of their pieces). The prize for which they are vying is $200,000 in award money as well as a mentorship with an established fashion industry executive. The judges panel includes fashion heavyweights such as Vogue's Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs CEO Robert Duffy, Narciso Rodriguez and others.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film and think it is a worthwhile, educational watch for anyone who enjoys the world of fashion or has any curiosity about this multi-billion dollar American industry. It is definitely a must watch for anyone who aspires to become a fashion designer and wants to know the dedication, talent, sacrifice and perseverance it will take to become a success in the business. The film is shot in an artistic and aesthetically interesting manner, in many ways like a fashion magazine editorial spread brought to life. The film is also quite personal, giving intimate glimpses into the lives and personalities of the people who make up the glamorous fashion industry.

The filmmaker successfully builds dramatic tension that culminates in the presentation of the CFDA/Vouge Fashion Fund Award at a star-studded, red-carpet gala event and includes some information on what became of the designers following production of the film.

I gave the film four out of five stars on the Netflix rating system ("really liked it"). It is 75 minutes long and is available via Netflix, Netflix Watch Instantly, and for sale on Amazon for $24.95.

RWR: From "Lisa" to "Light"

2011-02-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

While marriages between commoners and Royals are not unheard of, the love match between American-born and educated Lisa Halaby to King Hussein of Jordan was certainly unusual.

Lisa Halaby was a 26 year old Princeton graduate working as a decorator for Pan-Am in Jordan when she met the thrice-married 42 year old King of Jordan at an airport ceremony in Amman. Halaby, the granddaughter of a Lebanese man who emigrated to the United States, reportedly felt very at home in the Middle East and was already acclimated to life in Jordan when she first encountered King Hussein. However, she took three days to accept the King's proposal which followed a six-week courtship that consisted of being dined every evening. Agreeing to become a Queen is not something to be taken lightly, but she did finally agree, out of love "for the man, not the king."

It is not the custom in Jordan for women to receive engagement rings.

The couple was married on June 15, 1978 at Raghdan Palace in Amman in what Halaby later described as "perhaps the one of the most modest Royal weddings of all time." The ceremony was a small, traditional Muslim affair, with no bridal attendants present, and reportedly was only four minutes long. Halaby looked like many other Western brides of the late 1970s. She wore a modest, simple Dior gown and very little jewelry with a traditional white tulle veil, carrying a cascade of white orchids.

Upon marrying the King, Lisa Halaby's name became "Noor al Hussein" or "Light of Hussein". The two had four children together and remained married until the death of the King in 1999. She remains Dowager Queen Noor to this day, devoting her time to charitable pursuits.

RWR: V & A

2011-02-01T17:42:00.000-08:00

The marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert was one that was essentially arranged for them by family, seen as a means to ensure friendly relations with great nations. However, it is also abundantly clear that the two had a true, genuine, and passionate love for one another (this is the subject of the 2009 film The Young Victoria)

Despite their implicit betrothal, it was essentially the Queen who proposed to Albert. Of course, her offer was accepted and the Prince gifted her with an unusual engagement ring fashioned to look like a snake which was symbolic of eternal love, encrusted with emeralds. It was the fashion at the time to give a woman an engagement ring that featured her birthstone. She loved the ring so much that it is believed she was buried wearing it.

The wedding took place nearly two years after her coronation on February 11, 1840 at the Royal Chapel of St. James' Palace. Despite the rain on Her Majesty's wedding day, crowds of subjects thronged the processional route from Buckingham Palace to St. James', eager to catch a glimpse of their Sovereign and her Consort in their finery. The ceremony was attended by 2100 guests.

Although Victoria was not the first Royal to wear white to her wedding, it was her doing so that set the de riguer trend that continues even to this day. In this way, she is perhaps the Royal who has had the greatest influence on bridal fashion.

She purportedly chose the color because she wished to use some fine lace that she particularly liked that she believed looked best with the rich white satin she selected for the gown. The lace, completely hand made, was four yards in length and three-quarters of a yard wide and reportedly took eight months to make. The pattern for the lace was destroyed after its completion so that it could never be replicated for another client.

In order to emphasize the solemnity of the occasion, Victoria chose to rely more on adornments of orange blossoms than on her Royal jewelry collection, although she did wear large diamond earrings and a diamond necklace. Her veil, which did not conceal her face, was of hand made Honiton lace and took six weeks to complete.

She had twelve bridesmaids, who all dressed in a similar fashion to the Queen, wearing primarily white with accents of light blue and many floral embellishments.

Victoria and Albert, by all accounts, enjoyed a rich married life, producing nine children in the twenty years that they were married. After his death in 1861, the Queen wore only black for the rest of her life to pay homage to the mourning she felt at his loss. She continued to reign dutifully over the largest empire the world has ever seen until her own death in 1901.

100 posts, 100 years

2011-01-31T11:02:00.001-08:00

To celebrate reaching 100 posts on this blog, I have a little roundup of fashion images from the past 100 years. It certainly is not exhaustive, but gives a fun look at the way silhouettes have changed over the last 100 years, and what elements have been recycled over time.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading the blog!

McCall's, January 1911

Fashion Service Magazine, Spring/Summer 1921

Butterick, August 1931

Paris Winter Season, 1941

sewing pattern envelopes, 1951

McCall's pattern, 1961

Jaeger Fashion, London, 1971

René Gruau illustration for Vogue, 1981

Fashion Museum of Bath, 1991 costume chosen by Elizabeth Tilberis of Vogue

Trendsetting cast of Sex and the City at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards, 2001

And a look at some upcoming trends for 2011, via FashionStyleMe

And a question for my readers, which fashion decade of the last century do you most admire, identify with, or wish were still in style today?

RWR: Full of Grace

2011-01-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

Possibly one of the most iconic weddings of modern times, the marriage of Prince Ranier III of Monaco to American actress Grace Kelly was exceedingly glamorous, sparking the romantic imaginations of millions worldwide.

Ranier and Grace first met in May 1955 at the Cannes Film Festival. They were engaged by December. Grace Kelly actually received two engagement rings. The first was a Cartier infinity band of rubies and diamonds.

However, apparently upon a trip to Los Angeles, the Prince saw that the American actresses were all sporting large diamond engagement rings and thus he bought his betrothed a ring with 12 carat emerald cut diamond flanked by baguettes.

The actress-turned-Princess also had two weddings. The first was an intimate civil ceremony held in the throne room of the Monaco palace on April 18, 1956, followed by a grand gala where citizens of Monaco had the opportunity to personally shake hands with their new Princess. The Princess wore a modest and chic two-piece ensemble* of pink taffeta with an overlay of cream Alencon lace and a charming pink Juliette cap.

The religious ceremony was held then next morning at St. Nicholas' Cathedral, witnessed by 600 church guests and an estimated 30 million television viewers in Europe alone. (To give readers an idea of the immensity of the viewing audience, in 1960 there were an estimated 52 million television sets in the United States).

Princess Grace, widely known as a fashion icon, was downright luminescent in her Helen Rose gown of Brussels rose point lace and silk, thought by many to be the most beautiful wedding gown of all time. The gown was simple in design and impeccably constructed, giving center stage to Grace's natural beauty and elegance.

Given the scale of the affair, Kelly's entire appearance was understated yet undeniably sophisticated. The high neckline, long sleeves, chapel-length train and diminutive bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley lent a modest, pious and unassuming brilliance to the gorgeous actress.

Kelly's six bridesmaids (you can read about them in this book) wore unadorned yellow silk organza Priscilla of Boston gowns.

The wedding's uncomplicated, graceful style belied the glamor of the event. Included among the guests were various heads of state and diplomats, Cary Grant, Aristotle Onassis, Gloria Swanson, Ava Gardner and hotelier Conrad Hilton (acting as a representative of US President Eisenhower).

Grace Kelly's gown has a timeless quality that was widely emulated in the 1950s and 1960s, and continues to provide inspiration to this day.

A couple of late 50s/early 60s wedding gowns

Monique Lhuillier gown

Ivanka Trump in Vera Wang

*I was unable to discover the designer of the civil ceremony outfit. If any readers have this information I would love to know!

RWR*: Charles and Di

2011-01-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

*(to make my life a little easier, I am using RWR to stand-in for Royal Wedding Retrospective)

I decided to start with Charles and Di, because they are going to be the most obvious point of comparison when Kate and Wills tie the knot.

For all the highly publicized drama that their relationship came to be known for, it is impossible to imagine a marriage getting off to a more spectacular beginning. Diana, a mere 20 years old on her wedding day, was certainly a 1980s version of a fairy-tale princess. She possessed a grace, charm, charisma and beauty that was (in this fashionista's humble opinion) a bit lacking in the Royal family. Her shy eyes, friendly smile, and compassionate manner stole the hearts of millions worldwide.

The couple became engaged in February 1981. Diana's engagement ring was a Garrard Jewelers 18 carat oval sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds set in white gold. The ring gained additional significance and attention when Prince William offered it to Kate Middleton upon his proposal.

The wedding, touted by many as "the wedding of the century", took place on July 29, 1981 at St. Paul's Cathedral. Royal weddings traditionally take place at Westminster Abbey, the change in venue was decided upon because St. Paul's offers more seating and church guests numbered 3,500.

At least 600,000 people lined the streets of the processional route in hopes of gaining a glimpse of the Princess Bride while an astounding 750 million viewers watched the nuptials on television.

Diana's gown was so enormous that she and her father could not comfortably fit into the glass coach that carried her along the processional route and when she emerged from the conveyance, the skirt was noticeably crumpled.

The silk taffeta gown, designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel (who have since written a book on the subject), boasted a 25 foot train, 10,000 hand-stitched pearls and sequins as well as hand-worked embroidery. Despite its grand opulence, the gown possessed a modesty befitting the decorum of the Royal nuptials.

Diana had five bridesmaids, ages 5-17 in attendance with her. Their gowns are in many ways mini-replicas of her gown.

After their ceremony, and before their relatively intimate palace reception of 120 guests, Charles and Diana stepped onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace to acknowledge their admiring subjects. It was at that time that the Prince and his new Princess shared the first public Royal kiss.

Diana's gown and the grandeur of her wedding were hugely influential on 1980s weddings. Leg o' Mutton sleeves, lace appliques, and ballgown sillhouttes dominated bridal fashions of the decade.

Royal Weddings

2011-01-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not ashamed to admit that I am very excited about the upcoming nuptials of Kate and Wills. I am a total Anglophile, and nobody handles pomp and ceremony better than British Royals. This wedding will certainly be one of those Time Life Books moments of this new decade.

I have a lot of faith in the future Princess to make this wedding one to remember from a style point of view. She is very beautiful. She has worked in the past as both a model and a photographer, so I am certain she has an impeccable aesthetic sensibility. As far as I have seen, her wardrobe is chic and flattering and not at all busy or ostentatious. April 29 couldn't come soon enough, and I wish I could be in London to enjoy the festivities!

In anticipation of the wedding, I thought it would be fun to do a series of retrospectives on royal wedding fashions. We all know that Queens and Princesses have, since time immemorial, been the benchmark for wedding fashion. I am sure this wedding will be no exception!

2011-01-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

Like most American moms, I spend a fair amount of time reading Dr. Seuss books to my children. A particular quote from And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street comes to mind when I think of last night's Golden Globes fashions, "Did nothing excite you or make your heart beat?"

No. Nothing did. Most everyone looked fine, but the gowns were structurally boring in generally bland colors. So, I decided to play a little game I will call "Fantasy Hollywood Stylist". Here are some picks I would have loved to see at the Globes.

This bronze Armani Prive says "I'm confident enough to leave a little something to the imagination". In an evening over-full with body-skimming gowns, this would have been a refreshing variation and would have looked stunning on Jennifer Lopez.

In this Marchesa gown, Halle Berry would have looked less like she forgot to put on a dress and left the house in her lingerie.

This Marchesa gown would have been an exciting addition to the mermaid silhouette that was popular at this year's show.

January Jones would have been more glamorous but equally daring in this Dior gown.

This gorgeously constructed Steven Colucci sky-blue gown would have been a breath of fresh air in an evening of ho-hum fashion choices and a more fitting choice for Julia Stiles.

Both of these Krikor Jabotian gowns fit in with the night's theme of nudish-neutrals, but are far more exciting from a design and construction point of view than what the stars donned last night on the likes of Scarlett Johansen and Sandra Bullock.

I could definitely see the fashion-forward Tilda Swinton in this Dior gown.

Here's hoping that the Academy Awards have a little more eye candy to offer us fashionistas!

Ninety years

2010-11-03T00:41:00.000-07:00

Before 1920, women could not vote in every state in the United States. Women have only claimed their right to full citizenship in this country for ninety short years. I hope that all who are reading this did not take that right and privilege for granted this year!

In this image, Alice Paul is sewing a final star to a banner. Each star represents a state that ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to our Constitution, finally granting women the right to vote across the nation. I know that this doesn't have much to do with the subject matter of this blog, but I figured that since this picture depicts historical costume and has sewing in it, you all would forgive me.

To learn more about women's suffrage, I recommend checking out the film Iron Jawed Angels.

Sewing, in miniature

2010-11-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

I have just learned that it is National Blog Posting Month. They are even kind enough to offer prompts to get your creative juices flowing. Granted, it is likely that most of the prompts won't exactly fit the subject matter of this blog, I might be able to adapt them as needed. For example, the first prompt is:

What toy from your childhood do you still have in your possession?

So, in that vein...

When I was five years old, I received my first sewing machine. It was a real, working sewing machine on a small scale, intended for small repairs, quick hems, etc. I loved it and used it all the time, mostly for sewing little purses. I've always had a thing about hand bags. My family even (affectionately?) referred to me as "the bag lady".

I no longer have that sewing machine, but the gift of that sewing machine has lived with me throughout my life and I have always remembered it and have always been grateful for it.

Recently, I bought a sewing machine as a present for a little five-year-old friend of mine. I hope it is a fraction as useful, fun, and inspiring to her as mine was to me!

Singer makes a few real, working machines in miniature... here are just a few to check out for the little ones in your life:
Totally Me!
Deluxe Child's Machine
It might be tempting to get a less expensive machine for a young person, but the better machines will stand up to more abuse from unskilled hands and last them longer until they are ready for a full-size machine. I've never met anyone who regretted learning to sew and met many who did regret never learning! This is truly a gift that lasts a lifetime.

The greatest Halloween costume ever.

2010-10-28T00:05:00.001-07:00

That is the phrase I typed into my Google search field. And the response I got was actually an illustrated version of a story told by an old friend of mine from high school, drawn by Doctor Popular. I think this Google is a little too smart. Hope you enjoy and Happy Halloween to you all!!!

Cutie pies

2010-10-22T08:37:00.001-07:00

So I'm not sure if it is the circles I run in, the time of life I am in or if there is something in the air, but it seems that everywhere I turn, one of my friends or acquaintances is having a baby. I think this is wonderful! I love being a mom, I loved being pregnant, and it is so exciting to see others experiencing it, too. And I am hugely excited that I am becoming an aunt soon!! My brother and his fiancé are expecting twins any time now. They are having two boys, my own twin boys have just turned four... it is so thrilling that I will be able to share my journey of twin parenthood with my own brother!

To recognize all the new and expectant parents out there and perhaps because we've been having a cold rainy spell here in Los Angeles, I wanted to share one of the coolest pieces of baby wear I have seen... baby legwarmers. These are ingenious. First of all, they are a sure-fire way to make sure your baby is looking hip and stylish. Secondly, and most importantly, they are incredibly convenient because they keep those precious baby legs warm like pants do but they make diaper changes a breeze because you don't have to wrestle your little one in and out of pants or fuss with tons of snaps. If you're expecting, put these on your wish list and if you know someone who is expecting they make a fantastic baby shower gift!

You can find them at BabyLegs and Agoo and a search for "baby legwarmers" on Etsy will turn up tons of hand made options. You'll get big time bonus points if you know how to knit and make your own (check out the free patterns here)!

Dedicated Follower of Fashion

2010-09-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

I very much enjoy this song by The Kinks. Have a great weekend!

2010-08-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no Emmy post tonight! I am up to my bustier in home renovation! Hope you guys enjoy the show!

Dollar-A-Day Wardrobe

2010-08-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I came across this article on Yahoo! today and was so inspired! This is one ambitious lady. This challenge reminds me a bit of the Stash Bustin' challenge and the Me Made March I followed over at So, Zo. I'm definitely adding it to the list of things I would like to try someday! You can watch Marisa's progress on her blog, New Dress A Day and you'll definitely see me there, too!

The true fit will set you free

2010-08-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered My True Fit, a website that finds your individual best jeans matches based on your height, weight, measurements and style preferences. With how difficult and time-consuming it can be to find the perfect jeans, it is so nice to have your computer do all the work for you! You can then purchase recommended styles directly from the site. They sell primarily expensive designer label jeans, so some shoppers may be priced out, but it will still give you a great idea of what to look for when you hit the mall!

Red Carpet

2010-08-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I attended the opening night of the HollyShorts 6th Annual Film Festival. My husband, Jonathan Deiner (pictured with me above), produced Think Tank, a short film written and directed by Peter Calloway, starring Matthew Rhys and Paula Rhodes.

The film has been very well received. It has screened at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival and the Rome International Film Festival and has won Best Comedy Short at the Sonoma International Film Festival, Best Produced Short Film at the Producer's Guild of America Producer's Challenge, 2nd place Best Short Film at the Los Angeles International Film Festival.

This week's event was our first red carpet experience, and I was fortunate to be able to attend with my husband (one of the perks of being married into the entertainment business). I wore a navy Piko 1988 ruffled cocktail dress I have had in my wardrobe for a couple of years and a pair of metallic gray ruffled peek-a-boo toe Madden Girl heels, with some costume bangles and earrings.

To be candid, it was quite an awkward experience. I felt kind of out of place on the red carpet, since I didn't actually work on the film. I should have read this first. And I shouldn't have followed a professional actress who knew what she was doing, it was a bit of a blow to my self-confidence. But, there is a first time for everything and now that I have a better idea of how they work, it shouldn't be so bad next time. The event and the evening were really fun and we enjoyed the Opening Night screening that featured some fun shorts starring celebrities like Mina Suvari, Will Ferrel, Don Cheadle and Zooey Deschanel. I'm looking forward to more fun evenings like this as my husband's career progresses.

Stuck on you

2010-08-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to see this story pop up on my Yahoo! homepage. I love it when the creativity of young people is highlighted, I tend to think we don't hear enough good things about teens in our culture. Anyway, these teens are all being celebrated for creating their prom attire completely out of duct tape! The winners, pictured above, achieved a charming and romantic look. All that filigree must have been a challenge to execute! Many of the other finalists' designs were excellent as well, with lots of whimsical, period, or fantasy influences. This is a far cry from a duct tape wallet!

2010-08-01T00:44:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I am slated to attend my first real red carpet event... but I don't know what to wear!

First Anniversary

2010-07-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, but I've now been blogging for a whole year! I know I'm not as prolific as many of the other wonderful blogs I follow, but I have really enjoyed my experience so far and hope you all have enjoyed it as well!

The First Anniversary, by tradition, is the Paper Anniversary... so here's some excellent paper fashion eye candy for you!

Crabby Crafty

2010-06-26T21:03:00.001-07:00

Today I stopped in at Home Ec in Silverlake, Los Angeles to check out a friend's charity bake sale. I had never had the pleasure of checking out the shop before, and I look forward to going there again soon to look over their awesome selection of whimsical fabrics, maybe to take a class or two, and just find out who these fun folks are. While perusing their website I found, and had to share, these oh-so-funny Subversive Cross Stitch Kits.... definitely not your granny's needlepoint!

The Bee's Knees

2010-05-20T18:14:00.001-07:00

As long as I can remember I have had a fascination with the 1920s. This decade was quite an extraordinary period of history. A war had just been won and our country was celebrating, high on easy credit and moonshine. Freud was rediscovering our sexual natures as human beings. Women's fashion was also extraordinary at this time. Skirt hems became so short that they not only exposed the ankle but occasionally even the bare knee. Women tossed aside their corsets and embraced the sensual androgyny of drop-waist gowns and cut their long locks in favor of bobbed hairstyles. They were no less womanly for setting aside these feminine conventions, instead they felt free to embrace their vital sexuality in a way never before seen.

While I was perusing Life According To Celia (the highly enjoyable blog of my former wedding gown client) I came across some images that capture the themes of this era so strongly and beautifully from the book Jazz Age Beauties: The Lost Collection of Ziegfeld Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston. This work is definitely one I will be adding to my collection.

It is especially fitting now as the last of the Ziegfeld Follies girls, Doris Eaton Travis, passed away just a week ago on May 12, 2010 at the age of 106. She had this to say of being one of Ziegfeld's Girls:

“It was beauty, elegance, loveliness,” Mrs. Travis recalled in an interview with The New York Times in 2005, “beauty and elegance like a French painting of a woman’s body.”

...

2010-05-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

If any prospective clients happen to read this, I want to let you know that for the time being I am not able to accept any projects. We are in a frenzy of house-hunting and hope very soon to be moving in to a home. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted about when I get my new "shop" set up! I do have a couple amazing people I can refer interested parties to, so don't hesitate to continue to contact me if you are looking for custom sewing services!

What I love on Etsy right now: Spring sale!

2010-05-09T00:35:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine who used to work at the LA Opera with me now lives in Italy, designing and creating her own accessory masterpieces and selling them on etsy. And, as luck would have it, she's currently running a sale! Monjio Creations. You know you want all of these gorgeous pieces:

Spats! I mean, really... who doesn't want a set of SPATS?!

Hands off this awesome bolero made from a pair of trousers... I'm buying it as soon as I have a good excuse to wear it.

Fall bride? Yes, indeed.

Because you know you love love... the perfect bridal headpiece any time of year.

Quoth the Raven: Never before have I looked so good as I do on top of this
fantastic polka dot headpiece.

Current shoe obessesion

2010-05-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

In March I went on a little weekend trip to my hometown, Boulder, Colorado. A friend and I were window shopping on Pearl Street Mall when we decided to duck into this awesome little shoe boutique called Two Sole Sisters. The place was chock-full of incredible shoes and I couldn't move more than a couple feet without exclaiming how cute/unique/beautiful this or that pair was. The shop is so chic and comfortable and... now this is the real shocker... the ladies working there were completely friendly and were not pressuring us OR giving us the stink eye because we weren't buying. I love shops like that!

Anyway, I totally fell in love with a pair of shoes and have not been able to get them out of my mind since my visit. I shot an email to the store yesterday and described the shoes. In a matter of hours I received a response telling me who made the shoes, what their style name was, and a tip that I could probably find them for sale online! She also informed me that their store will soon be setting up some e-commerce, so keep checking back with them!

Without further ado, here is my shoe crush: Larue, by Gee WaWa:

Someday, they will be mine (in case my fairy godmother is reading, I think and 8 or 8.5 would do very nicely, in rich brown, please).

Derby Day

2010-04-30T08:59:00.001-07:00

May 1st marks the 2010 Kentucky Derby, the oldest horse race in the United States. The race was first run in 1875 and was modeled after famous European horse races of the time. The race continues to be an illustrious event to this day, attracting the rich and famous and horse-lovers of all kinds. One of the most interesting traditions associated with the race is that women generally don hats, especially oversize, rather outrageous styles.

While I am not much of one for horse-racing, I do love hats and any occasion that calls for us to wear them. Despite The Hat having fallen out of fashion favor in the United States, hats worn for this event are of a scale so grand, we haven't seen anything like them since the height of hat fashion during the Edwardian era.

(Typical Edwardian hats)

So, in honor of Derby Day, I've scoured the Google Image Search to dig out my favorite hats from Derbys past. For an occasion such as the Kentucky Derby, I favor hats with broad, sweeping brims, festive colors, whimsical touches, and an over-the-top-but-still-elegant design.

(this Lady In Red get the idea!)

(A little My Fair Lady)

(just the right amount of modest extravagance)

(Kim Kardashian tops off her look with an understated by incredibly glamorous piece)

(the shape, size, and scale of this hat make me swoon... but wouldn't it be absolutely spectacular in a lovely spring color scheme?)

(this hat is fantastic! Whimsical and a bit outrageous, reminiscent of Edwardian millinery, but with a very flattering shape).

Although I'm not sure I'll ever make it to the Kentucky Derby, perhaps someday I'll find a group of hat enthusiasts to accompany me to the Santa Anita Racetrack for a fashion reenactment of the Derby.

What's in store

2010-04-20T15:49:00.001-07:00

My baby brother (who isn't so much of a baby anymore at 28 years old!) is getting married this July. That's us in the picture, I'm 2 1/2 years old and he is 8 months old. I am so happy for him and his fiance and the life they are creating for one another, and I am especially pleased to be making the gown his fiance will wear when they join their lives together. I'll let you all see pictures after the wedding!

Easter Bonnets

2010-04-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!
I love Easter because it is one of the few occasions we have in modern times to don a gorgeous hat, and I just love hats!

Victorian Easter Bonnets

Adorable, little girl, 1950s Easter bonnets

and the Easter bonnet I would buy if I had a good enough reason.

This day in history: 3/25/1634

2010-03-25T01:33:00.001-07:00

This is a feature I haven't done for quite a while... it is a fun and fascinating topic, but also rather time consuming. But I decided to carve out a few minutes to give my readers another dose of fashion in the context of history.

On March 25, 1634, the colony of Maryland was founded. Just thirteen years prior to this, the cotton seed was brought to America from England.

This image of Henrietta Maria, Queen of France by the artist Van Dyck would have represented the height of European fashion at the time.
However, the common American colonial settler would have found such a costume prohibitively expensive and impractical for a life of hard labor that they had to live. The populations of the settlements were sparse, and everyone had to pull their own weight, and then some. Aside from participating in the more traditional womanly arts of sewing, cooking, housekeeping, and child-rearing, the average American colonial woman would also often be required to attend to the livestock, keep up the family garden, serve as midwife to other women, and step into any more traditionally male role should her husband perish or become otherwise incapacitated. But somehow, they managed to do it all while wearing a corset.

And if that doesn't impress you, try putting on a belt a few notches too tight and doing the vacuuming... you'll get the picture. For good measure, throw on a wool sweater and hat (even if it is summer on the east coast... it didn't stop our founding mothers!)

Rather than the opulent silks and laces of their upper class European sisters, women in early Colonial America would have worn sturdier fabrics such as wool. The garments would have to be mended repeatedly because a lack of time and resources would prevent them from having new bodices and skirts when their old ones wore out. And washing didn't happen nearly as often as today.

If you are curious about what life was like for early American settlers, check out the information on Colonial House, a PBS show that aired in 2004.

Round Ones

2010-03-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

For a fashion lover, I don't spend much time flipping through the magazines or drooling over images from various fashion weeks around the world. And this is why:

This woman

and this woman

are the industry standards of "curvy", "fleshier", and "voluptuous" and industry big-wigs are having a great time patting themselves on the back for breaking the "weight barrier".

It has even gotten to the point, after a death of a model from heart failure after stepping off the catwalk, that the industry is being pushed to institute minimum BMIs and provide food backstage.

To folks like Karl Lagerfeld, I say, "Give me these gorgeous, fit women on the catwalk any day..."

..."and tell your models who have to run around in the shower to get wet that we aren't buying what they're selling."

(PS. I'm pretty sure that modern Venus in the first picture would count as being round. And I'm pretty sure that plenty of people are more than pleased to look at her.)

Fashion Challenge, Part I

2010-03-11T16:06:00.000-08:00

Some days, you feel like you have nothing to wear... Well, there are a couple of inspirational ladies who have taken that idea and embraced it!

The first woman I want to introduce you to is Zoe from So Zo (of Stash Bustin' fame). She has created a "Me Made March" challenge in which she only wears clothes that she has made all month long. Down to the pajamas and a totally awesome leopard coat! This is a pretty terrific challenge, and I can only imagine how amazing it would be if this trend took off. I think that sometime soon, I will take on something similar, but for now it will probably have to be that everyday I wear something I made rather than self-made from head to toe... but someday I will definitely be up to giving this challenge a try!

Thanks for the inspiration, Zoe, and keep up the awesome work!

Red Hot

2010-03-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

(image via Love My Dress)

I certainly don't want to diminish the beauty of a white wedding gown (I wore white, too!), but have you noticed how I'm a little obsessed with brides wearing alternative colors? This real bride wore a show-stopping red gown for her wedding and it is absolutely stunning. It is traditional for Chinese brides to wear red on their wedding day, a tradition I hope more Western brides will consider borrowing!

The Big O's!

2010-03-08T23:47:00.000-08:00

The Academy Awards were held this weekend at Hollywood's Kodak Theater. One thing I hope that my readers will understand (and forgive me for!) is that the Oscars are usually a big social event for my friends and family, so the evening was spent more in chatting and enjoying the company of friends than in taking notes and scrutinizing what everyone was wearing. However, from a fashion standpoint, the Oscars are always my favorite awards show because it is the most formal and fashions tend to be more spring oriented (ie, less black, warmer colors and softer, more flowing fabrics).

I was not able to catch every detail, so I will share with you a few of my big favorites.

My heart skipped a beat when I spied Up in the Air's Vera Farmiga in her Marchesa gown. What can I say, I'm a sucker for ruffles, pleats, and bright pink, so this dress was my complete package!

I also happen to be a sucker for deliciously deep reds, so Penelope Cruz's strapless Donna Karan Couture was right up my alley (this picture really doesn't do it justice. It was especially lovely under the stage lights).

Avatar's Zoe Saldana truly shone (literally and figuratively) in her bold Givenchy gown. She took a chance and this fashionista says she pulled it off gorgeously.

I also really enjoyed Rachel McAdams' gown, it was a lovely juxtaposition between a formal, conservative silhouette and a fresh, somewhat whimsical, water-colory print. Her gown kept to the full, flowing, muted-color trends of the evening, but did not include any ruffles, which helped her stand out from the crowd.

There were, of course, disappointments. I thought that Demi Moore dressed too young in her peachy ruffled number. Jennifer Lopez dressed seemed to be channeling Barbie in her iridescent pink Armani Prive. And I did not love Sarah Jessica Parker in her awkward Chanel sheath.

Overall, everyone looked amazing, but I hope that next year the program will be more engaging and that the stars will be willing to step outside their fashion comfort zones a bit more.

Fly Girl (Another Stash Busitn' Project)

2010-02-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is Stash Bustin' project #2, a little girl's dress (approximately size 3T) made from an old pair of jeans with the skirt and ruffle made from fabric in my collection. The hat and dress were so much fun, I think I have a collection in the works!

Unbelievable!

2010-02-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

This is definitely one of those "why didn't I think of this" kind of things. I discovered it via Love My Dress, where it is billed as a bridesmaid dress. One dress, four lengths/hemlines and two sizes that accommodate most every size and figure, and can be worn fifteen different ways, available in eighteen different colors! So, yes, of course it is a great solution to the oft-frustrating bridesmaid dress dilemma, but it is also just a fantastic dress to have in your regular wardrobe. What a great dress to take on a cruise, to wear to a work party, to wear to a play/symphony/opera/fancy dinner out. This dress might never go out of style! It can even be worn by pregnant women, which is super-fantastic because that is a very difficult time to find a flattering dress. Dress from twobirds, prices start at $270. So unless you can find fifteen gorgeous, well made dresses for $18 each, then this is really a great deal!

All Aboard! (A Stash Bustin' Project)

2010-02-18T19:37:00.000-08:00

I felt really inspired by So Zo's Stash Bustin' challenge... inspired enough that I broke into my stash of my husband's old jeans with the holes in the knees and grabbed a roll of accent fabric out of my collection and... voila. A day later, I have an engineer's hat.

I plan to make another hat and a little girl dress... three new items from one old one!

Bustin' out

2010-02-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

I was cruising the awesome Colette Patterns today when I came across this link to "So Zo" with this explanation of the Stash Bustin' committment:

"People, may I please have your attention for a moment. I am launching a new campaign: Stash Bustin'! Like pretty much ever sewer on the planet, I have too much (fantastic, potential-filled, perfectly usable) fabric sitting about crying out to be turned from it's raw form into a myriad of awesome projects. It really is quite a crime. Therefore, I am pledging to bust my stash, using as much of my fabric collection as I can, over the next few months. I will only be stepping into a fabric store when absolutely necessary to pick up items like linings and interlinings to complete projects when I don't already possess an alternative."

Although my life circumstances keep me from doing as much sewing as I like, I'm really into this idea and want to sign up and promote anyone else interested to join in!

I will post my Stash Bustin' projects when (if!) I complete them!

"Getting dressed is a creative expression"

2010-02-13T00:28:00.000-08:00

Saw this video of Iris Apfel on Advanced Style. She has great words of wisdom for the design lover and fashionista and it is a really nicely composed piece. Enjoy!

Accomplishing a handmade look

2010-02-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

One great way to get a handmade look for less is to purchase a ready-to-wear wedding gown in a plain, simple design and then look at it like a blank canvas for your bridal design expression. Stores like David's Bridal of course always have economic choices. At $250, this was the lowest price gown currently on the J Crew website.

For one look, pair it with this $22 handmade bolero for a pop of color and a look that is unique.

You could also sew on some handmade pieces. These organza flowers available in sets of ten for $3 on etsy would make a lovely asymmetrical cascade starting on one shoulder, continuing down the back.

For a bolder look, you could add several fabric flower corsages like this one for $8.50 also from etsy.

Another idea is to keep the dress simple and make the fashion statement all about bold accessories that will steal the show. It is justifiable to splurge on accessories because there will likely be opportunities in the future to wear them again (which more likely than not will not be the case for your wedding gown). For example, you could have the hem shortened in front (image for visual aid purposes only!) and don a truly stunning pair of shoes that won't go hiding under a modestly long gown.

And rock a bold handmade necklace

Or an over-the-top hat or headpiece:

or like this somewhat more demure one available for just $145

(both pieces from Gena Conti Millinery)

You may also want to consider custom-dying your gown a la Gwen Stefani for a true rockstar look.

And you don't have to give up on the idea of a handmade gown. If you or a friend sews reasonably well, there are a large number of quality commercial bridal patterns available that can make the process fairly simple. (A word of advice from a bride who has made her own wedding gown: do NOT procrastinate! Give yourself plenty of time to sew and make mistakes and get help, etc. Plan to be done two months before your wedding so you can have those last several weeks to deal with the final details and RSVPs, etc.)

This simple but elegant pattern is available at any fabric store that carries Vogue patterns. When you sew your own, the options are limitless. You can be creative with colors and fabric textures, and pick great detail items such as exciting buttons (for an off-beat look, get vintage buttons and have each one be unique).

The cost of custom-made

2010-02-09T19:16:00.000-08:00

(image from hu-made, a one-woman "factory" in New Mexico. I am borrowing it because she so aptly describes what it is to have something handmade.)

I just have to come out and say it. Having something custom-made, handmade, made just for you, is not likely to be the most cost effective choice. In this day and age and world, you are almost certain to find a ready-to-wear, factory-made, mass-produced thing for much cheaper.

When garments are made in a factory, the patterns are often made by computer, with the punching in of "typical" measurements to get the proportions right. Designs are engineered to require the minimum amount of stitching and labor. Fabric is laid out layer upon layer upon layer and cut with what is essentially a large saw so that many copies can be cut in the time it takes to cut one. The garments are then assembled by teams of stitchers who are often paid minimum wage at best, each stitcher usually completing one single part of the garment over and over and over again, and passing it to the next stitcher for the next component to be completed. Factories have large amounts of space and can buy fabric and materials in bulk, wholesale prices. The prices are marked up at least 100% over the wholesale cost when you buy in the store (increase that percentage by a lot more when you are buying designer). And then, if you want an excellent fit, you have to pay for alterations on top of the price you paid in the store.

When garments are custom-made, the patterns are draped and drafted to suit your specific measurements and shape. Designs are engineered to your tastes and desires, and many couturiers will create a muslin mock-up of your design to try on you to ensure that the size and silhouette are exactly what you want. Fabric is laid out carefully and patterns meticulously placed to ensure that the grain and size are just right. Garments are then assembled by an individual who pays explicit attention to the details and can incorporate many hand-finishing techniques that are simply too costly to incorporate into mass-produced garments. Many people who create custom-made garments work from their home and often must buy their supplies and equipment in low quantities and at retail prices (even though we're usually pretty good at knowing where the deals are!) An artisan who works from home must incorporate many factors into the price of the goods made: the space used in the home in proportion to the rent or mortgage paid, the time in planning and conceptualizing the product, the cost of utilities and supplies and appliances (and their upkeep) that go into running a small business, the cost of gas and car maintenance for shopping trips, as well as the cost of materials and labor (I believe my time is worth more than minimum wage).

When you buy custom-made, you are paying for what you get. You are not paying for factories, shipping fleets, advertising, retail stores and pushy sales staff. It can be more cost effective for some people (especially if you are considering purchasing a designer label), but one should not seek custom-made simply because they are looking for a bargain.

If you believe that you are the kind of person who wants custom-made but just really can't fit it into the budget (and that is perfectly reasonable!), stay tuned to my next post for some tips on how to get a hand-made look for less.

2010-02-08T18:02:00.001-08:00

You know how the wise man once said "life is what happens while you're busy making other plans"? Well, long story short I have decided that my big project will have to hold off a while... I'll still be working on it (slow and steady wins the race!), and I'll let you all know when it is done. Meanwhile, it's back to business as usual!

(I know this picture is a little crazy, but I figured it was OK to use it on my style/fashion/sewing blog because she made her earrings from spools of satin ribbon.)

Vintage Plaid Day Dress

2010-02-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

I recently purchased this adorable vintage brown/green/blue cotton plaid dress from Swift Vintage (blog here and awesome etsy shop here). The dress fit me very nicely (I kind of have a "vintage" body type and seem to do well with 1950's/early 1960's stuff). I was, however, feeling a little bit... matronly... in it given that it is so dark in color and has a conservative neckline. So I decided that a bit of hemming was in order. I cropped it to just above the knee and was happy with the results.

The angle of the picture isn't terribly flattering, but it gives the idea. This was just the little alteration that this dress needed to feel a little more up-to-date and flirty and more appropriate for evening. Although you can't see it in the picture, I have decided that I like to wear my belts backward to add a little interest to the back of the dress. Maybe I'm crazy, but I like the look. I love this dress so much and have worn it twice already!

I try to adhere to the principle of "waste not, want not", so I'm holding onto the extra fabric. I think there is just enough to make a cute little vintage inspired baby girl dress like this one:

neat-o

2010-01-31T20:06:00.000-08:00

I'm still working. But I want to share these great little gems with you!

From Monkapaws via Love My Dress

Advanced Style

2010-01-27T14:48:00.000-08:00

You all have got to check out this blog and subscribe. It is seriously amazing and I just can't keep it to myself any longer. OK, now I'm going back to work.

Working on something big!

2010-01-22T22:21:00.000-08:00

I'll most likely be a little M.I.A. for a couple of weeks because I'm working on something big! (That I unfortunately can't tell you about just yet!) See you soon!

Dress of a different color

2010-01-20T12:37:00.000-08:00

An earlier post of mine about wearing alternative color wedding gowns has enjoyed a bit of traffic, mostly for the black gown I featured in the picture. I thought you alterna-brides might take inspiration this interesting black gown by Oblivion Clothing.

Golden Globes Glamour

2010-01-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

So the Emmy's had the intense heat, and the Golden Globes had the rain (so much for our perfect Southern California weather)!

A few trends from the night: The multi-colored Remember Haiti ribbon was de riguer. Jewelry was understated again, with virtually no necklaces to be seen. There were lots of one-shoulder numbers and many of the gowns were so long they actually "puddled" on the ground with not even a peep of shoe to be seen. An elegant look, but probably difficult to deal with on the rain-soaked red carpet (I thought they would have put up a tent!). Unfortunately, none of the umbrellas were much to look at.

There were so many gorgeous gowns to look at. Kate Hudson's Marchesa gown was a feat of fabric engineering, constructed with superb craftsmanship and fitted her perfectly.

Modern Family's Sofia Vergara stood out from the crowd in a slate-with-crimson-accents Carolina Herrera gown with a unique train.

Mo'Nique looked incredible in her gold drapey strapless gown that complimented her full figure perfectly.

Black was probably the most popular color choice of the evening. January Jone's Lanvin gown did black best, boasting clean bold lines and texture variation.

Pastel fleshy tones were another popular choice for the evening. Mad Men's Christina Hendricks took the cake in her va-va-voom peach satin Christian Siriano gown. I love that she is never afraid of her gorgeous curves!

Emily Blunt, Drew Barrymoore, Nicole Kidman, Felicity Huffman also sported lovely pale-hued gowns.

There was also a smattering of winter jewel tones worn by the likes of Zoe Saldana, Gabourey Sidibe ,and Jenna Krakowski, but Marion Cottillard set the bar for the night in her super dark emerald green Christian Dior with that edgy little peek of a slip showing from her up-to-there slit. It seems unfair that so much talent, beauty, and French fashion sense could belong to one woman, but there you have it!

There were quite a few bold choices on the red carpet as well, which I find refreshing.

Tina Fey looked appropriately whimsical in her black-and-white Zac Posen gown. I think the length is a little awkward for her, but love the shoes!

Diane Kruger of Inglorious Basterds really pulled of this hot-pink ombre Christian Lacroix gown. I love the juxtaposition of the bright color with the conservative cut.

Chloe Sevigny almost suffered a wardrobe malfunction when the train of her lilac Valentino gown was trod upon as she ascended the stage to accept her award for her role on Big Love. The strapless ruffled number was a par-for-the-course daring choice for the actress but unfortunately did not flatter from every angle.

Patricia Arquette of Medium definitely gets the "better luck next time" for her snake-print number. Between the print, the criss-cross bodice, awkward neckline and the flutter sleeves there is just too much going on and it does nothing to flatter her figure.

PS: Dear Olivia Wilde, Mariah Carey, Halle Berry, in this fashion-lover's humble opinion, the plunging neckline look is way over. We all know you have amazing breasts, but it's time to move on.

Style Conscious

2010-01-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

(via Love, JD)

Help Haiti! $15 gets you this t-shirt, designed by Studio Number One,

& 100% of the cost goes to UNICEF relief efforts in Haiti.

Every penny going to Haiti right now means life-saving medicine, water

and shelter, and UNICEF is especially instrumental in securing these

for children.

Order your shirt here and spread the word!

Project Trench Coat

2010-01-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you lose a button in a busy place and you don't have any idea where you placed the little plastic baggie with the extra button that came with your garment when you bought it. (Exhibit A, missing button on left side of jacket, lost at a bowling alley during a holiday party).

But you don't despair because you know that you can solve your problem and dress up your plain garment with some cool new buttons for just a little time and effort and not much cash. (Exhibit B: square tiger-stripe amber, silvery and black buttons purchased for $1 each at Michael Levine's in downtown LA's garment district).

And the result is a slightly dressed-up, improved version of the original (Exhibit C). I ended up going a little more subtle than I had originally planned, but I feel like the result is polished but still interesting. I feel just a little cooler wearing my black Target trench now.
Of course, I could have avoided all this effort if I had just reinforced the buttons when I first bought the jacket, but I'm rarely that motivated. Also, while I was putting away the extra new buttons that I bought, I found the original manufacturer-provided extra button in my button stash (turns out I occasionally put things where they belong). But I'm OK with that, I like the new buttons much better.

"I don't even know how to sew on a button!"

2010-01-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

When I tell people that I sew, one of the most common responses is, "I don't even know how to sew on a button!" There are a some practical life skills I think should be taught to everyone in school that get sadly overlooked by many... how to type, how to balance your checkbook, and how to sew on a button are just a few. Through the power of the internet, you can now learn this handy little life skill and will no longer need to call on mom or shell out money to a dry cleaner to get buttons replaced. Also, replacing boring buttons with buttons that are whimsical, colorful, or elegant can breathe new life into a garment and make it look couture and one-of-a-kind. They are like jewelry for you garment. And no one will ever guess you bought it at Target.

Here's one video that shows how to sew on a typical four-hole button. The video moves a bit fast, so pause it as needed. They have tried to make it a bit hip and fun by adding music and amusing titles.

And here's one that demonstrates sewing a shank button. It is a little slower moving, and very thorough and informative.

Happy button sewing!

(stay tuned for the results of my own missing button project!)

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hope you all are having a wonderful time celebrating the turn-of-the-decade! Here's an image of a spectacular party dress from Paco Rabanne, worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Two For The Road (a really interesting movie, I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't seen it). See you in 2010!

Joy to the World!

2009-12-24T18:00:00.001-08:00

Hope you and yours are having a very happy holiday! Enjoy!

(and you can find this costume here if you need to liven up your gathering)

Let's bring back poodle skirts!

2009-12-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

And by that, I really mean appliqued circle skirts. There is no reason poodles should get to have all the fun! Circle skirts are wonderful because they are flattering on a variety of figures, they require very little sewing know-how to create (and if you make them from felt they don't need to even be hemmed), and they are a perfect blank canvas to express yourself through fashion in a fun and whimsical way.

Oversized flowers look fun and chic:

This darling skirt let's everyone know you're in a party mood:

The three-dimensional vines of magnolias on this skirt are downright glamorous:

Using abstract shapes can let your inner designer shine:

And Santa will be sure not to miss your house if you don this skirt on Christmas Eve:

Instructions for making a circle skirt are easy to come by, or a commercial pattern can be purchased from your local fabric store.

Free applique templates abound on the internet, you are really only limited by your imagination (just try googling "{applique idea here} pattern" in an image search and you're sure to find something). I came across a few cute ones to share with you:

kitty cat applique from mmmcrafts

owl applique (template here) from amazing mae

skull and crossbone applique found on crafty crafty
and a
bird and ribbon applique from Make Them Yourself

The technique you use for your applique will vary depending on the materials you use and your skill level. You may use fusible webbing, needle-turning, or even topstitch a felt applique by hand with large stitches of embroidery thread. With some practice and creativity, you can experiment until you get a look you like.

You can also get a personalized monogrammed circle skirt from Hey Viv!

If you do decide to give the circle skirt a go, I'd love to see your pictures!

What I love on Etsy right now: holiday picks

2009-12-14T16:39:00.000-08:00

Wooden Heart Necklace (I love the festive colors and the funky look of the clasp in front... I mean, it always ends up there anyway, right?)

LuRoe Accessories are created by an old friend of mine, we were in the same 5th grade class! She just happens to be a great creative talent in the jewelry department with a great offbeat style. I always advocate supporting handmade when it comes to gift buying (I consider it a public service), so I've picked just a few of my favorite pieces of hers to share with you all if you're looking for a few more gifts (or a treat for yourself) this holiday season:
Peach Agate Hoops
Funky Wrap Watch
Green Shell Bracelet
Silver Filigree and Chain Necklace

Get 'em while they're hot (or before I buy them all!)

Baby Got Back: a reader question response

2009-12-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

Reader Lisa (who also happens to be my mom) recently asked regarding my Victorian ball costume: "what did you stuff the 'bum' with?"

Most Victorian fashions of the post-crinoline period (c. 1867-1890) used a bustle to add volume to the back of the skirts, thus the name "The Bustle Period", which is broken down further into a few sub-periods. Although there is something absurd about the exaggerated silhouette of the era, I have always been aesthetically drawn to this look.

There were several styles of bustles in this period that would create different amounts of volume and shapes with varying degrees of comfort and mobility. These are a few examples:

Another acceptable, simpler alternative is the bum (or bustle) pad. It is, essentially, a shaped pillow tied just below the waist to sit right on top of the bum. We used them on a few shows at the Los Angeles Opera while I worked there. They are a little bulkier than a wire bustle, but they are easy to make and it's pretty easy to move and sit in one. That is what I chose to do for my Victorian ballgown look.

My bum pad isn't looking so great... it is actually still attached to the waist tie by safety pins, even though I made it about four years ago! So, I am borrowing this picture from Past & Present Creations because it is essentially the same thing:

Denise Nadine Designs is just one site that offers a wide selection of foundation and under garments for those who don't want or feel unable to create their own.

I really enjoy taking reader questions, so be sure to drop a line!

Button, button...

2009-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last night at a party I lost a button from my simple black trench (purchased at Target). At first I was frustrated because now I have to buy 10 new buttons (because what is the likelihood of finding one button that is exactly the same, even if it is a simple black button?).

Then I got excited... what a perfect opportunity to snazz up my simple black trench! Duh! So now I'm on a search for fabulous buttons that add just the right amount of splash but that won't take away too much from the neutrality of my coat (let's not forget that the whole reason I bought black was so I could wear it with almost anything).

I came across the store Cute As A Button and these are some of my favorites:

...but I might just end up cruising the vintage button selection on ebay instead.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

2009-12-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

That's right, it's actually raining in L.A.! Word on the street is that it will continue all week. This kind of weather leaves me wishing that we had enough rain here to justify buying a bunch wonderful rain wear... but in the meantime I must content myself with my fantasy of having a closet full of these lovelies (my heart is pitter-pattering almost as loud as the rain outside):

Raincoats:

Vintage Galoshes:

And, of course, about a million pairs of Wellies:

Some rain hats:

And I would even try to bring back the Rain Bonnet (it's easier on the 'do):

Victorian Ball

2009-11-29T21:42:00.000-08:00

Last night I was able to attend my first Grand Victorian Ball since before I had my children. I was a wonderful evening full of costumes, dancing, friends, laughter, and lemonade. Getting my ballgown done in time was a little stressful, but I got it done and was overall very happy with the results. (But I won't lie... there were definitely several safety pins where hooks, bars, and snaps were supposed to be!)

I did have a dilemma with my hair since mine is much to short to be Victorian. Rather than wear a wig, I decided to try to pass mine off as best as possible by pin-curling most of it and styling the front into a pompadour. I added in some jeweled hairpins and a sort of fascinator and I felt very pleased with the effect.

If you think period costumed gatherings might be an adventure you would like to try, the Social Daunce Irregulars, Friends of the Engilsh Regency, Victorian Tea & Dance Society, Mikal Sandoval's Speakeasy, and Club Cicada are just a few of the many options available to folks living in the Los Angeles area.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T01:09:00.001-08:00

I hope you enjoy your holiday as much as this dancing duo seems to be! Enjoy your meal, love your family and friends, and count your blessings!

They're called "aglets"

2009-11-22T17:03:00.000-08:00

Those little metal or plastic tips on the ends of your shoelaces... and I need to find two and an applicator ASAP.

Turkey Day Trinkets

2009-11-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

this feathered hairpiece entitled Wild Turkey

this bold Turkey Feather Brooch
this beautiful Turkey Brooch

How much fun would it be to spice up your Thanksgiving wardrobe with these little numbers?

Flower Girl

2009-11-12T14:33:00.000-08:00

(Photo by Cathryn Farnsworth)

When Celia (my recent bridal client) and I went shopping for fabric, she casually asked whether I like to sew for little girls.... ummm, heck yeah!!!! I love little girl clothes, especially with a vintage vibe, and given that I have two boys I don't get my fix very often. So I was thrilled when she asked me to create a top for her niece who would be her flower girl. And, on top of making my day, she had the brilliant idea to use the same vintage laces on the blouse that we were using on the wedding gown.

Celia had thought of having her niece wear this JCrew top, so we used it as our inspiration:
We used the pearl white silk taffeta from Celia's gown for the foundation of the gown and added three layers of lace that made an appearance on her gown as well and this was the result:

(front view)(back view with keyhole opening and rhinestone button)

Celia's niece was so sweet and adorable during her fitting, and judging from the pictures, she looked great on the big day!

The Process and The Gown

2009-11-07T17:02:00.000-08:00

(photo from Cathryn Farnsworth)

I am extremely pleased to say that the bride I made a custom gown for has been featured on the popular blog east side bride. There is one post summing up the wedding and a second post in which the bride details the story of having a dress custom made. She also has several posts about it on her own, very fun-to-read blog life according to celia. So this seemed like a wonderful opening for me to describe the process.

A former colleague of mine from the Los Angeles Opera costume shop contacted me to say that a bride-to-be had gotten in touch with her to make her gown. This friend of mine now lives in Nashville, and referred the project to me. My background is in costume design for theatre, so I approached the design process as if I was designing for a play. In theatre, the costume designer reads the play, conferences with the director, and takes the design concepts of the set and lights into consideration all while evaluating the character the design is for and how to express that character through the clothing they wear. In many ways, a wedding isn't a far stretch from a theatrical piece. The characters are the bride, groom, and wedding party. The set is the location, and the bride is definitely the director! The collaboration results in a design that is unique to the bride, physically flattering, complimentary to the surroundings and expressive of the bride's personality.

I asked Celia to send me pictures related to her wedding, what accessories she had, anything that inspired her. From my point of view, nothing was irrelevant.
She also sent me images of what her bridesmaids would be wearing, and images of dresses she liked.

The top right dress was the main look she liked, with the back pictured top left. She also like the capelet-look of the bottom right image. She said she liked the dress on the bottom left because it reminded her of a cupcake and she told me she wanted an empire waist gown so she could enjoy her meal on her wedding day. And she added that she wanted to try to do something with ruffling down the back because her fiance enjoys a more simple, streamlined aesthetic, while she likes things a bit more textured and ornate. She also told me that she almost exclusively wears vintage clothing. I was getting really excited at this point!

Based on what I had seen and discussed with her, I presented her with a few images and ideas of my own at our design consultation.
We talked a lot, and the design changed here and there over the course of our process together. Our first meeting was a design consultation and measurement session. The second meeting we had was to go fabric shopping in Downtown L.A. Later we met for a muslin mock-up fitting and then had a few more fittings after that. And this was the end product (which I believe Celia once called a "vintage lace cupcake")...

The gown was made of a pearl white silk taffeta underlayer with a champagne silk chiffon overlayer. The train is trimmed with ruffles made from eleven antique laces found on ebay. A vintage lace applique adorns the front of the bodice with more antique lace gracing the neckline. The gown also features embroidered organza trim and pleated taffeta trim.

It was a great pleasure to make and I couldn't have asked for a more unique, beautiful, fun bride to work with! I am sure Celia and her husband will live a long, happy life together and I feel honored to have played a small part in the day that bonded them together!

'Tis the season for entertaining...

2009-11-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

With Halloween officially behind us, it is time to turn our attention from candy and costumes to turkey and table runners. We're getting into the Thanksgiving and other winter holidays, and many of us will be entertaining guests in our home. And you know what? You deserve a beautiful apron to wear on those occassions. There is a good chance your guests will be seeing you in it, so treat yourself to a cute one that you can be proud to wear in front of people. I have absolutely fallen in love with the selection of aprons from The Apron Shoppe. They're a fashion statement in and of themselves. A flattering, feminine, but utilitarian apron also makes a wonderful hostess gift if you should happen to be a guest instead of a hostess. I hope everyone has wonderful and delicious holiday plans ahead of them!

For Next Year

2009-11-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

For Halloween next year, I am planning to make a real-life version of this rubber stamp image. Maybe if I get started now, I'll have it done in time for Halloween 2010! It should be a really fun challenge!

The Queen of Halloween

2009-10-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

My mother had the curious fortune of being born on Halloween. I think it has always been a little tough on her to share her birthday with this raucous holiday, spending many years shepherding her costumed children door-to-door through the freezing neighborhood streets of Boulder, Colorado when I'm sure she would have rather been having an intimate meal at a cozy restaurant with my dad. To be sure, there was never a lack of a party to go to on Halloween, but the party was never exactly for her. When my mom turned 50, we all celebrated by going back to Boulder together (and yes, it was freezing!) and some old friends threw a costume party in her honor. I really wanted my mom to be the belle of the ball, to feel spectacular on her big milestone birthday so I created this Cleopatra costume for her. I hand-beaded the collar on a sparkly gold-toned base (I almost wanted it to look like the beads were just suspended on air around her shoulders) and draped a dramatic, blue-green iridescent cape from the back that attached to the middle finger with small elastic loops. The dress was a simple strapless sheath but made from a heavy dark gold satin to look regal and with some hand-beaded accents added. The belly-dancer sash, headpiece and arm-band were purchased.

I dedicate this post to my friend and dedicated blog-follower-- my mom! Happy Birthday! And a special warm greeting to any other readers who also share their special day with this holiday.

Creative Costumes

2009-10-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

Ever get tired of the Sexy (insert noun here) Costumes? (A sexy ladybug? Really? Is that necessary?) I totally understand the desire to unleash your inner vixen on this night when you can put on another persona for an evening an let loose a little. It's an old tradition (like Carnevale in Venice, Carnaval in Rio de Janiero, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, just at a different time of year)... put on a mask and leave your inhibitions at home. I myself have indulged in somewhat racy costumes over the years (a Moulin Rouge showgirl, Catholic schoolgirl, kitten, etc), but sometimes it is nice to stray from norm and do something out of the ordinary that is focused on creativity instead of wearing as little clothing as possible (in high school I worked at a fabric store and one Halloween a woman came in to buy several yards of extra wide elastic so she could go as the chick from The Fifth Element which I suppose is sexy and kind of creative at the same time... but also pretty stupid because Halloween in Colorado usually involves lots of snowfall or at least very cold weather. But I digress).

And I guess I'm getting pretty picky here, but I also have a strong distaste for costumes from a package. They are cheaply made, overpriced, and you're almost guaranteed to be dressed exactly like someone else at the alcohol-infused costume party you will be attending. And remind me to tell you the "one size fits most" story sometime...

Anyway, my hat is off to the folks who come up with clever, fun, engaging, creative costumes like these:

You can see this guy loves to have a good time, and he managed to keep his clothes on to get the message across.

This one is hilarious for babies because we all know they enjoy the privilege to...well, pass gas with carefree abandon. Although, on second thought, it may encourage people to sit on your baby. Which would be bad.

These folks have combined naughtiness with modesty and have also pulled off an awesome couple's costume, which (although it may be considered trite by some) I am always a fan of.

If there's anything I like better than a couple's costume, it's a group costume and this family has pulled it off beautifully. Especially because Junior's get-up can transition right into p.j.s for bedtime while mom and dad stay up to party with the adults.

Whatever you end up wearing for Halloween, I hope you have a terrific time and I'd love to hear about all your costumed escapades! If you're feeling short of ideas, check out this awesome list for ideas.

The World's Easiest Halloween Costume

2009-10-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

When I was in high school, there was a classmate of mine who was popular due to his intelligent sense of humor, easy-going attitude and general all-around good-naturedness. When it came time for prom he decided (like many of us) not to rent a limo (prom in Boulder, Colorado is definitelt a more laid back affair than in many places... one year my date wore Birkenstocks with his tuxedo). But instead of simply borrowing his parents' nice car, he chose to drive in his own slightly beat-up, slightly run-down, old station wagon. But here's the good part... being the clever guy that he is, he took shoe polish and wrote the word "LIMO" on the side windows of the car. I'm pretty sure there was some philosopher who said something about how if you can imagine something, then it exists. So, this guy made a limo out of an old station wagon by merely suggesting it to our imagination.

So what, pray tell, does this have to do with the world's easiest Halloween costume? Well, it is the same principal behind this t-shirt:

Because my kids still aren't into the Halloween thing yet and because no wonderful costume-wearing opportunities are coming my way this year, I have decided to take a similar, albeit more specific, "power of suggestion" approach to the Halloween costume this year by sporting this t-shirt purchased for a mere $9.99 at Target (I apologize for the blurry picture, it's just one of those days):

It's not quite as cool as when I went as Glinda for Halloween when I was a little girl, but it will have to do.

(I am pictured here with my younger brother who was aptly dressed as the devil... just kidding, bro!)

I'm definitely a little disappointed not to be doing something a tad more extravagant and fun this year, but I plan to make up for it next year... I have something truly fabulous in mind! But more on that later...

Mad about Mad Men

2009-10-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

I realize that I have been very absent from the blog lately, but my husband and I have been obsessively watching the hit AMC series Mad Men on DVD. We don't have cable, so we always catch our shows after they have hit the air, but we like it that way because we don't have to wait a week between episodes. We have made it through the first two seasons and are totally hooked. Even our three-year-old twin boys love the show!

Let's just pretend for a moment that the writing isn't spectacular, that the acting and direction aren't outstanding and that the art direction isn't impeccable... the costumes are absolutely to die for! I would watch it for that reason alone, but I am pleased that the show is a complete package!

The gorgeous and accurate costumes for this amazing period show are designed by Janie Bryant, the creative mind behind the equally impressive costumes of HBO's Deadwood. The second season Mad Men DVD contains an excellent mini-documentary about the fashions of the Sixties narrated by Bryant and is definitely worth checking out if you get the chance. The fashions of the Sixties, just like the Sixties themselves, were revolutionary and reflected the incredible historical changes that took place in this era.

A few of my favorite things about the costumes for this show:
1) the men, even the less attractive ones, look delicious in gray flannel suits and slicked down hair.
2) the show recognizes that curves are sexy!
3) characters wear the same outfits more than once, just like people do in real life.
4) the hairstyles

You know, this list could just go on all night, so I'll leave it at that!

Not exactly sewing...

2009-10-12T01:52:00.001-07:00

... but I still want to give some airtime to the crochet project I finished today. I learned to crochet granny squares in 5th grade, but never learned anything beyond that and never learned the names for the stitches. The other day I was on etsy searching for a nice, cozy winter hat and I stumbled upon this pattern upload for a beginner level crochet newsboy cap. So, I paid for the download (a very reasonable $6) and trucked off to JoAnn for some yarn and hooks (sadly the locally owned yarn store has gone out of business). In almost no time I had made this! It is so far from being perfect, but I'm proud of my first non-granny-square crochet project and had to share! If you like crochet, or think you might want to learn, I highly recommend this project. Or, if you want to take the short cut, just buy one from Heidi's Hats!

Congratulations!

2009-10-10T01:03:00.000-07:00

Today my bridal gown client is getting married! I hope she has a fantastic wedding and enjoys every minute of it! Here's a little teaser of the gown for you to enjoy!

A Night at Club Cicada

2009-10-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I celebrated my 30th birthday at Maxwell DeMille's Club Cicada in Cicada Restaurant on the ground floor of the Historic Oviatt Building in Downtown Los Angeles.

What a fantastic evening! Walking through the breathtaking lobby through the doors of the restaurant (manned by a fully uniformed doorman) is like taking a step back into time. Most patrons choose to dress in period clothing from the 1920s through the 1950s. From start to finish your visit is overseen by gracious waiters, a masterful bartender, and a host of other characters. The music for the evening was provided by Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys and was beyond delightful (you can even watch a webcast of the evening). It was, every bit of it, worth the rather expensive tab at the end of the evening. We topped it all off with a couple of traditional Paper Moon portraits. I think I'll make it a yearly tradition!

*Paper moon photos from the folks at Hobo's Vintage.

What I love on Etsy right now

2009-10-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous neck piece from Big Frozen Melon

Almost too good to be true!

2009-10-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

But it is true! Just in time for Halloween, the Los Angeles Opera Costume Shop is holding its first ever Costume Sale this Saturday, October 10 from 10am to 6pm. This is a Big Deal. This would be like Vera Wang throwing a yard sale in front of her Rodeo Drive boutique. As a former employee of the LA Opera Costume Shop, I can tell you firsthand that every piece is handcrafted and represents hours upon hours of skilled labor and talent. This is Couture, ladies and gentlemen. All available to you between $10 and $250 (with a few of the most special pieces going for up to $5000). This is not to be missed, even if you just go to take a gander at the amazing craftsmanship of these one-of-a-kind pieces. You will see me there at 10am sharp, and maybe I'll find something I made!

*Photo from the LAO production of Strauss' Der Rosenkavelier, designed by Gottfried Helnwein.

My First Halloween Costume

2009-10-05T11:07:00.001-07:00

When I was about two years old, I got to dress up for Halloween for the first time and try out trick-or-treating. My mom dressed me as Buster Brown, an advertising icon from the early 1900s. Apparently I was not interested in the trick-or-treating, but perhaps this is where my life-long love of playing dress up and creating costumes was born.

Buster Brown was an excellent costume choice by my mom. It has the "cute" factor that you want for a young child's costume, it is simple enough that it can likely be recreated with pieces you already have at home, it is comfortable and (this is important in October in Colorado) it is warm. Those are all important considerations to make when selecting a costume for your children.

What was your first Halloween costume? What are your favorite memories from your youthful Halloweens?

2009-10-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to October, the month that ends with Halloween! For someone who loves costumes, Halloween is the greatest of Holidays! There are few things as exciting as planning and creating a memorable costume and then getting a chance to "be" someone or something else for a day. The candy's not too bad, either, but it is totally secondary to the costume! I would love to hear what my readers have in store for the big day this year!

The Next Big Thing

2009-09-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

Now that I have the wedding trio (bride, mother of the bride and flower girl) completed, it is time to turn my sights on a new project. This time it will be for myself to wear to the Social Daunce Irregulars Victorian Grand Ball. These events are so much fun! What could be better than dressing up and dancing reels, waltzes, and polkas with gentlemen in period evening wear? And all for less than $30!

The next event is November 28, so I'm planning to make my gown in wintry colors like dark green, gold, cream, and maybe accents of burgundy. And because the Victorian Era spans the years of Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901, it is important to pick a more specific style within the period. I prefer First Bustle Period of the 1870s. The end of November will be here before I know it, so I better get to work!

Another one in the bag!

2009-09-23T19:00:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I will be delivering the Mother of the Bride gown I made for the mother of the bride whose dress I completed last month. I am very happy with how this one turned out, but (all together, now!), no pictures until after the event! Looking forward to sharing it with you!

oh EMMY gee!

2009-09-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Awards show nights are like the fashionista high holidays. I just can't get enough of seeing people in designer formal wear and I love it all... the good, the bad AND the ugly! And the strangest thing to me is that even though the awards take place here in Los Angeles, we don't get to watch them until after the rest of the country due to time zone differences. So, I've got to stay off the web until the show is over so no surprises are ruined. One thing is for sure, it was hot, hot, hot on the red carpet, I'm sure those celebs had a tough time keeping their looks together with all that heat.

A few trends I noticed:
The Emmys have fuzzier fashion rules than The Oscars. Some years they are very casual with lots of ladies sporting cocktail dresses and sometimes even pants suits. This year it was a treat to see the trends lean far into the formal side with lots of trains, satin, and flowing fabrics. We just don't have many opportunities these days to enjoy formal wear, so I relish any chance I get and the Emmy's did not disappoint this year.

**Understated jewelry with a notable absence of necklaces. Perhaps the stars wanted to remain more subtle in these economically challenging times? There were some chandelier earrings and bracelets seemed to be the biggest jewelry focus of the night. I was glad to see this, the dresses were able to make a greater statement when they didn't have to compete with the bling.

**Red, red everywhere and in all styles from Mila Kunis' girlish frock to Toni Colette's stately gown to Blake Lively's vampy number.

**Purple, like on Padma Laksmi, Lindsay Price, and Ginnifer Goodwin.

**Sparkling dresses in metallic tones like Holly Hunter, Kaley Cuoco, and Sandra Oh.

I also thought there were too many black dresses... come on, ladies! When you wear a black dress we can't see all the lovely detailing that the designer so meticulously created. Black dresses, especially on TV, are more like blah dresses.

Favorites:
I have two number one favorites this year, both very different from one another. The first is Jennifer Morrison in this amazing red dress which looks like fabric origami. It is deceptively simple so the design detail really pops without distracting from the loveliness of the wearer. I am also just drooling over the assymmetrical hemline and those gorgeous silver heels.
My second number one pick is Jennifer Carpenter's elegant black and white gown. There is something very French and Art Nouveau about this piece that I love. She really stood out from her peers arriving on the carpet and even though there is a lot going on in the gown's detail, her beauty still shines.

Kourtney Kardashian had one of the best maternity looks I have seen on the red carpet and Heidi Klum must be the hottest, most confident pregnant woman of all time.
Drew Barrymore was stunning in a lovely pink sequel to last year's airy blue Dior number that she donned for the 2008 Golden Globes.
Elizabeth Perkins looked amazingly confident, understated, and oh-so-age appropriate.
Perrey Reeves looked classic in her shimmering empire gown.
Rose Byrne was heavenly in her floaty dress.

Bold choices:
I applaud celebs who make bold red carpet statements. Do they always work? No. But these ladies take the plunge and confidently walk the media gauntlet and turn lots of heads in the process. My top bold choice pick is Mad Men's January Jones. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I like this dress. But one thing is for sure, she wears it beautifully.

Olivia Wilde took a big chance in her icy blue illusion gown.
Victoria Rowell made a statement with her fashion in the Obama dress which is sure to top the Worst Dressed lists... but I say life is too short to play it safe.
Kristen Chenoweth was a shining (pun intended) example of this year's sparkly dress trend. Whether or not you like the dress, it certainly matches her sparkling personality!

Better luck next time:
Kyra Sedgwick had a lovely dress, it just wasn't right for her. It would have looked much more appropriate on Hayden Panittiere... maybe they should have ducked into a limo and swapped.
Leighton Meester missed the mark in her unflattering white gown which paled in comparison to her Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively.
Glenn Close's gown worked from the waist down but... 1) the off-the-shoulder neckline looked dowdy on her, 2) the slashed back was too teenager for this middle-aged acting powerhouse, and 3) it was blah-ck. Sorry, Glenn, but three strikes and you're out! She did take home the Emmy, though, so no hard feelings I'm sure!

Friday fun

2009-09-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun little number that I dedicate fondly to my old colleagues at the Los Angeles Opera costume shop. Enjoy!

The De-wrinkling Cheat

2009-09-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you love ironing as much as the lady in this picture. Hauling out the board and finding space to set up and a place to set the iron without fear of melting something nearby are all a big pain. I have found a cheat that will help you come pretty close to an ironed look that is infinitely easier and less time and space consuming.

It is ideal to do this the night before you need to wear something, but if that's not an option you'll want to give yourself as much lead time as possible. (I want to add a disclaimer here: this technique is not advisable for garments you will wear to really important events like weddings, funerals, and job interviews. Those occasions deserve proper ironing respect.) Do not use this technique on a garment that will be shrunk, spotted, or otherwise ruined by water. If in doubt, put a small bit of water in an inconspicuous place (like inside the hem or at the bottom of the placket) and let dry thoroughly to see the result.

First, hang your garment. If it is a shirt, hang it carefully and button the front. Make sure it is hanging symmetrically. If it is knit, make sure your hanger won't cause "hanger bumps" on the shoulders or arms. If it is a skirt, hang it from a clip hanger by the waist. If it is a pair of trousers, hang them with a clip hanger upside down by the hems, inseams together (like you're making a sandwich... outseam, inseam, inseam, outseam), the clips gripping the center backs and center fronts of the legs.

Second, grab a clean spray bottle that has a mist setting and fill it with clean water. This would be a bad time to spray oily or chemically stuff onto your clothes, so I don't recommend reusing an old cleaning spray bottle.

Now begin spritzing your garment. I usually put my hand inside the garment to add some tension which helps to smooth the wrinkles and spray from the top down. You'll end up getting the garment damp, but it shouldn't be anywhere near dripping. Put a towel down to catch the mist that will fall to the floor.

Last, smooth or pull out any stubborn wrinkles, using more water if necessary and allow the garment to air dry undisturbed.

It's not as crisp as ironing, but considering that you're going to get wrinkled in the car anyway, it's a good second choice!

In Honor of Firefighters

2009-09-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

This morning, the apartment unit connected to mine caught fire! It was quite a dramatic morning, but a vigilant neighbor and an awesome, efficient team of LAFD firefighters ensured that the damage was contained to one room of my neighbor's apartment. So, in honor of our nation's amazing firefighters, here is a picture from my family's Halloween last year... the boys were little fire chiefs, their double stroller was a fire truck, and mommy was a chic dalmatian.